The weirdest weather ever

This week it’s World Meteorological Day – and as meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere, focusing on weather processes and forecasting, here’s the craziest facts and stats about our planet’s fascinating climate…

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth is 57.8°C (136°F), recorded in Al ‘Aziziyah, Libya on 13 September 1922.

The coldest temperature is −89.2°C (−128.6°F), recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica on 21 July 1983.

The most rainfall ever recorded in 24 hours is 182.5cm (71.9in) in Foc-Foc, La Réunion, during tropical cyclone Denise on 8 January 1966.

The heaviest hailstone ever recorded weighed 1kg (2.25lb) and landed in Gopalganj District, Bangladesh on 14 April 1986.

The fastest wind speed ever recorded is 486km/h (302mph)in Oklahoma City, USA on 3 May 1999.

The greatest snowfall ever in a single storm was 189in (15.75ft) at the Mount Shasta Ski Bowl, US, in February, 1959.

And did you know….

The Earth experiences millions of lightning storms every year. They are incredible discharges of electricity from the atmosphere that can reach temperatures close to 54,000°F /30,000°C – the surface of the sun is not even this hot, at around 11,000°F – and speeds of 60,000m/s (130,000mph).

Close to 2,000 thunderstorms are going on around the world this very moment. Lightning generated by those storms will strike 6,000 different spots on earth in the next minute.

The average lightning strike is 6 miles long.

The eye of a hurricane can be anywhere from 2 miles (3.2km) in diameter to over 200 miles (320 kilometres) but they are usually around 30 miles (48km).

The USA has more tornadoes than any other country in the world, averaging around 1,200 a year. This is due largely to its unique geography, which forms an area in central USA called “Tornado Alley” which is frequently hit.

A “moonbow” is a rare lunar rainbow or night-time rainbow, produced by light from the moon. Our eyes see it as white, even though all colours are faintly present.